If you’re into your board games, you’ll be chuffed to hear that there’s a tabletop gaming festival coming to Manchester where you can roll dice, role-play and roll up your sleeves for a proper old-school sweaty gaming session.
Ah, those were the days, and we’re determined to relive them as often as we can.
Set up by local tabletop meeting organisers Dungeons and Flagons, who have various events taking place at different locations all around Greater Manchester each and every month, the ‘Tabletop Weekender’ next month is set to be their biggest event to date.
Taking place in the first weekend of February, visitors can expect hours upon hours of board game fun, with tickets available for both days of the full weekend if you really want to put some tabletop time in.
The Dungeons and Flagons brand has slowly but steadily been building a pretty big cult following in and around Manchester, with regular meetings amongst fellow board game fans almost every night of the week at multiple venues in the city centre and beyond.
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While this is by no means the first festival like this, they’re hoping to kick off 2024 with a bang by making this the biggest and best Weekender yet.
And when we say this is an all-dayer, we mean it: the fun starts from 10am and runs all the way until 10pm on Saturday, as well 10am-8pm on Sunday, there’ll never be a lull in the festivities.
Sponsored by industry brands Hachette Boardgames UK, Zatu Games and Chaosium Inc., you can expect raffles and giveaways, a traders row to buy and sell; bingo, pub quizzes and other activities, not to mention more cosplay and game choices than possible moves in a game of Warhammer.
They always have plenty of cards up there sleeves too. Not literally — that would be cheating.
But, seriously, the 18+ afterparties once the games have included everything from standup and live magic to karaoke, horror film screenings and party games galore.
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It’s the biggest board game festival and gathering of tabletop players anywhere in Greater Manchester.
With games like straightforward Dungeons and Dragons and ‘Puzzle Parlour’ jigsaw sessions, to the Honey Heist RPG, the ominously named ‘Blood on the Clocktower’ and so many more choices, you can turn up and book on to so many different kids of games or just go with the flow.
Taking place in the Manchester Metropolitan University‘s Student Union over the first weekend of next month, this fun and family-friendly event isn’t just for those who are used to playing board games; the Tabletop Weekender is the perfect opportunity to give the genre a try if you’ve ever been curious.
If you fancy rolling the dice on it, you can grab your tickets HERE and there will be a small amount available to buy on the door across both days.
Hope you catch a few of you there!
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Huge festival of colour celebrating ‘new beginnings’ is coming to Trafford Centre this spring
Emily Sergeant
A huge festival of colour celebrating renewal and new beginnings is coming to the Trafford Centre next month.
You may’ve heard the news that it has rained somewhere in the UK every day since 2026 has begun, with the North West and Greater Manchester in particular coming off quite badly, as you’d expect, but don’t worry because colour is returning to the region this spring, and this year, it’s set to be brighter than ever before.
Known for bringing communities together through music, colour, and wellbeing, RDC Festival’s Elements is back next month, and will be transforming the Trafford Centre into a vibrant global celebration inspired by Holi – the ‘Festival of Colours’.
Holi is traditionally a celebration of renewal, love, and new beginnings, and Elements is designed to bring this spirit to life through immersive colour play, movement, and ‘shared joy.
Festival organisers are inviting visitors from far and wide to step into a world of ‘colour, sound, and connection’.
Taking place on Saturday 14 March, the festival is designed to awaken the senses and create unforgettable moments of togetherness, and you can expect everything from throwing vibrant colours, to dancing beneath global sounds, and plenty more.
There’ll also be an ‘energetic’ programme of live entertainment and DJs playing out tunes and sounds from across the world, and foodies will be able to explore the delicious Tropics Street Food Forest, offering global flavours and refreshing treats all throughout the day.
Beyond the vibrant festival atmosphere, there’ll even be a dedicated RDC Wellbeing Hub featuring music, arts and crafts, and a reflection wall to create a calming space.
A huge festival of colour is coming to the Trafford Centre this spring / Credit: John Thomas (via Unsplash)
And, of course, there’ll also be the famous ‘Colour Run’ at the heart of the event – which is what Holi is best known for.
“We’re delighted to welcome Rain Dance Colour Festival’s Elements,” commented Simon Layton, who is the Centre Director at Trafford Centre. “It’s an event that celebrates colour, culture and togetherness and we’re proud to support vibrant events that enrich our communities and give guests a joyful, shared experience they can return to year after year.”
RDC Festival Elements takes place at the Trafford Centre next month on Saturday 14 March, from 12:30-6:30pm, and early bird tickets are on sale now and include a free colour packet and free RDC ELEMENTS t-shirt for a limited time.
Multi award-winning musical Back to the Future returns to Manchester next summer
Emily Sergeant
Nearly six years after making its world premiere here in Manchester, Back to The Future The Musical is returning to our city next summer.
The multi award-winning musical – based off the beloved 1985 film of the same name – held its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House back 2020, but unfortunately, as you can probably guess, its run was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now, flash forward to 2027, the production is returning to ‘settle some unfinished business’.
Lead producer Colin Ingram, together with Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back To The Future film trilogy, have announced that the musical will return to Manchester as part of its first-ever UK tour.
Directed by Tony Award-winning director John Rando, alongside a multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team, Back to the Future The Musical has a book by Bob Gale, and new music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard.
Multi award-winning musical Back to the Future is returning to Manchester / Credit: Supplied
Additional hit songs from the film, including ‘The Power of Love’ and ‘Johnny B. Goode’, are also included in the production, making it a real trip down memory lane for fans.
The show will run at Manchester Opera House from 13 July through to 21 August 2027, following its run in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre, where it’s currently in its fifth year, having broken box office records and being seen by more than 2.3 million people.
“Speaking for the entire creative team, we are beyond thrilled to be returning to the Manchester Opera House, which we consider the birthplace of Back to the Future The Musical and one of the UK’s best venues,” commented co-creator Bob Gale.
“No city has ever given us a better reception and the incredible audience response we received in 2020 helped shape the show creatively in myriad ways.”
Back to the Future The Musical will take to the Manchester Opera House stage from 13 July – 21 August 2027, and tickets officially go on general sale tomorrow (18 February) at 10am.
Danny Jones -
19th January 2024 
